I bet it looks like I dropped off the planet- for goodness sakes I might as well have! Almost two years since an update- for shame!! So, we had a baby. He's over a year old now- barely! For his comfort growing up, I will refer to him as Bubs- Danger really IS his middle name!! He was born August 19, 2011. A JOY I tell you all. I found out I was expecting New Year's Eve 2011- so we conceived about 4 months after my surgery. Hubs is an amazing Daddy! I weighed, for those keeping track I had a bariatric surgery- 180 January, 170 February, 195 August 18 2012, 175 August 20 2012, and now, 190. (Gotta watch them calories now my milk supply is steady!!)

We cloth diaper, practice extended breast-feeding, and bed share. I suppose we are "crunchy" or...it's what works for us. Attachment parenting?? Hmm, just instinctive. I'm sure a lot of my posts will be about cloth diapers/cleaning/buying, as well as breast feeding and such. I'm very passionate about the best for my son- and future children!!

We live in SOUTH KOREA now- Hubs' job changed in the army- he now works on Aircraft- and this was where they sent us. It's hot and humid in a slap-your-face kind of way- and I hear this is a mild and not typical summer. Joy. But it is a very neat country, amazing people and culture- Bubs has been a little too young this summer to really enjoy everything but the next year and a half + I'm sure he will love! Enough words...more pictures!!!

Weight loss surgery done!

It happened July 28th, a Wednesday. I went home that Saturday. Day of surgery I weighed- 223. Today, I weigh 196!! It's working! The rate has slowed down, but it's averaging about 5 pounds a week now. (The first two weeks were about 10 lbs each!!)

A before-now pic- I was out and about both days and jeans were a necessity! The before pic is August 2009, when I weighed about 240:




And of course, Robert is home! He got home June 21st, and it's been nice to have him here and helping.

Last month we trekked to Colorado and picked up the family cockatiel (she's 12!) and then up to Montana, all way to quick but nice to see everyone. Robert got to white water raft in Co, BUT, I didn't since it was 11 days after my surgery!!

Some pics!

Some Old tyme style pics of Robert and I:




A rafting pic- Robert, my Uncle Jack, Bro Justin, Dad Brian and the guide!:

Weight Loss Surgery is Soon!

So, the long awaited surgery is actually scheduled- July 28th. 20 days away. Wow! I'll be getting a Gastric sleeve, you can check out info about it and other bariatric surgeries easily by googling or Bing-ing the info, at least until I find links I want to share.

I'm excited. Nervous. Scared? Anxious, and of course being how OCD I am, worried about the logistics of the eating plans for the first almost 2 months...lots of details, but I start with clear liquids, then full liquids, then soft, then pureed, then gradually other items. Things I will never eat again without pain- carbonated beverages, alcohol, and some spicy things. It all depends on how my new stomach handles things.

I currently weight 220 lbs, and I really hope to see below 200 by my birthday, but I don't expect it.

More later!

~S Out

Holidays

Oh, I love this time of the year!

I'm following a lot of blogs lately, and I realized I am completely clueless how to do neat stuff...like, make a pretty NOT basic background, and link to other posts!

Anyone find a tutorial out there, lol??

Back to Holidays...I like this time of the year because I am a giving person- can't always afford to give as much as I want, but I love the shopping/making, shipping/gifting...wrapping, and anticipating the opening!!

I also tend to give year round, but most people are just generally more excited during Christmas.

I want to take the time now, more so than normal, to be Thankful for God and the lessons we can take from Him and His son. I think a lot about how to live my life, and because I feel guilty I know I am aware of right and wrong. Nope, doesn't have to make sense m'dears, it's just how I feel!

I will be alone for Christmas, and any other holiday until this summer. Thats a little hard...but he doesn't have his support system either. Together we are trying to find some way to see each other on Christmas, webcam most likely.

I would like to wish all a Happy season, any religion or winter festival you practice!

I shall be adding Tree decoration pictures soon!

~Out

Whew!

Fleas gone...


On other news- I'm SO excited to decorate for Christmas again. I made an adorable theme 2 years ago, PENGUINS. Yes, really, lol! Penguins tree decorations, and tons of...well, penguins! Stuffed and all that cuteness. The colors on the tree- teal/turqouise and silver. And penguins. Apparently, Hobby Lobby has a line of PINK penguin ornaments I need to scope out. :D Let the madness continue!

And I love candles sooo much!! I burn through them so much. Ha, pun intended, lol!

Hubs is on a mission. Dangerous place. Big frowns. I pray all the time he will be okay, and I know that the communication is very, very limited. I miss him. Of course.

Oh, and, pat on the back to myself, I FIXED the broken screen on his laptop MYSELF. Found the manual, found the part number, ordered it, and completely dismantled the computer to put it in. That's cuz his computer isn't the easy repair type- the keyboard had to come out, the whole screen part off, and apart to put it in. Was so liberating.

And- I will probably be having a weight loss surgery early 2010. I'm a candidate because of how my weight loss plateaus, not so much that I am so overweight. I am, but I have 70 pounds to lose. I should have it off my the time Hubs is home! :D

Enough completely random ramblings.

~Out!

The things I allow to happen...and catching up!

I've been away a while, I apologize...but since largely this happens to be for me, well- my self therapy sessions need to start up again!

My younger dog, Ivy, the Saint Bernard, has a gross habit that I allow, because I can't stand doing it myself...

She... cleans up... cat regurgitations. Yeah, this sounds really gross until I explain a little, lol! My younger cat, for whatever reason, eats really fast, then it comes back up, not digested or anything. And the dog caught on the only way Mom will let her eat cat food is that way. Ew, but- I don't have to clean that up. All the rest *shudder* I do.

Having animals is gross, seriously. And I am fighting a flea outbreak on all FOUR of them, which let me tell you, if you never have had this problem, be thankful, and ALWAYS treat your animals NO MATTER WHAT!!! You do NOT want this issue.

I don't want to go into it, but even if I am lucky I won't get these fleas, they do still occasionally, apparently, BITE humans.

And the larvae and eggs....*shudders*...I freak if I think about it too much- if I had a special camera that showed all the bug pieces in my life, I would bomb the place. I'm including mites and stuff that EVERY household has, lol! I try not to think about it too much, and still eradicate with every piece of pesticide I can. But, apparently, animals themselves can't be treated more often then once every 30 days with the spot-type squeeze treatment, or every 3 days for the spray- which kills on contact but doesn't LAST.

I can't kill the suckers...I've BOMBED, powdered, sprayed, squeezed, vacuumed and washed so much, I just wanna move. And leave my babies behind. Shame.

And, it is all kind of costly when you do it right- and not easy. I thought one cycle would fix it all, looks like 2 or more, until the winter *crosses fingers* kills em.

R&R has come and come, and of course it wasn't long enough!!

Ah, lets see, I had lost 32 lbs by the time he came back, but gained 12 back, so, only 20 down. Darn stress and his crappy diet- I controlled portion but not WHAT I was eating and drinking. And- he and his family left tubs of ice cream and ice cream bars, and soda! Evil people!! (And me with little self control and no one to give opened ice cream and soda to...)

Been a while...

Yep, still around!

Things are...good. I think. There are bad days, of course, but mostly? I'm settled and just waiting for time to go by.

My visit with my Mom here was fun, we went to Cannon Beach, OR, and saw some beautiful seastacks, named "Haystack" and "Needles".



She caught a gorgeous sunset, I only stayed a day because the big furry dogs were making us both spazz, so I drove home and she enjoyed 2 more nights.



I had my birthday dinner while we were there. It was a lovely resteraunt, great food- but it was family friendly. And the families there- had NO control over their screaming loud kids. It was horrible loud.



We also we to a waterfall nearby, Snoqualmie Falls, and had fun taking some goofy pics.



I have lost 23 lbs since Hubs lost! Loving the rate of weight loss...and, since it is close to 10%, um...fertility wise there are really good signs!! (Nuff said.)

Hubs has moved FOB's, but he still isn't doing anything, and neither he nor I mind that. He bought a cell phone there, and holy cow we go through minutes- better the .20 a minute or so there, as opposed to if I call him, it would be $2+ a minute.

Hmm...that's pretty much all! Its getting close to week 10 with him gone- that's a lovely close to 20% done!! Woo! I am considering a room mate, to help with empty apartment syndrome and the expenses. Probably an Army person- I know they are somewhat accountable, and, Hubs should like that thought over an add for a stranger to move in, lol!

Over and out, for now.